Cal Young – Scientists Of Modern Music : Interviews
February 28, 2010 by Lisa Dib
Filed under Interviews, Music
Even now, as I chat to Cal Young- one-half of Tassie electronica two-piece The Scientists of Modern Music- he is knee-deep in musical ingenuity. Holed up in the studio, lovingly preparing their debut album for our patient ears, Cal lets me know a little of what they’re working on.
“We are working on a really nice kind of meaningful track. It’s one of our more serious tracks and it’s sounding very nice. It’s gonna be finished today. It’s a serious topic on the lyrical front; it’s about a group of people, friends, and someone whose friend has committed suicide. We feel strongly about these sorts of issues. We’re being a bit more mature [lyrically]”
So how is the album coming along?
“Sounding good! Got about twenty songs, gonna chisel them down to twelve, everything’s sounding really different to the EP, which is cool. It’s taken about a year and as half to write this album, but it doesn’t matter how long it takes, as long as it sounds good. We’re hoping to finish up all the songs in the next month or two, I don’t wanna give a date, because I have no idea, but definitely this year (laughs) We’re hoping mid year. We’re doing more shows at the moment as well; we slowed down with shows last year for writing, to focus; now we’re doing finishing touches and getting back out there”
SOMM will be playing a no doubt explosive set at this year’s free, all-ages Sounds Loud Festival. “It’s great playing for all ages, they really get into the music” Cal explains. “We try to have a varied demographic. It’s good to be playing at a festival like this; it’s different to any other festival. They charge you a shitload at other festivals! This is a fresh change; you know everyone is gonna be there and having a great time”
Scientists Of Modern Music
Making a significant mark on the Aussie music industry- punter and professional alike- is difficult enough, but the Scientists have the added obscurity of originating from Tasmania, where they still reside. Though Tassie is by no means desolate, one can admit that more musical waves might be made in the mainland. How do SOMM find the great divide?
“Over the years, we’ve learnt how to deal with it and make it work for ourselves. The only issue for us is that, when we fly, it costs a bit to carry our gear and stuff, but you gotta do that; it’s part if being in a band. If we come out with a great album and everyone likes it, that’s a bonus for us and Tassie and gets Tassie out there a bit more. I can imagine being on the mainland later on, but at the moment it’s working out well for us”
2009 was a year we will all remember- well, those who paid attention- as the apex of an electro comeback. Every third band one might have seen on rage or heard over the radio waves now was an ‘80s-synth-splashed electric burst of sound. Some were good, some were bad and some were downright awful; nevertheless, electro made a big splash. But do the Scientists stand out from the rest of the pack?
“We definitely have seen the changes in the music industry; electro is the new black, but what we do and what we’ve always done is stood out from the rest. For this new album, when we perform it live, it’s gonna be more of a huge step up. We still wear the black and white and go nuts on stage, but it looks more interesting [now]. That’s something that a lot of bands don’t do, is enjoy themselves and look like they’re enjoying themselves on stage. It is something we always have and always will do. I think people wanna come to see performers, so we put on a performance; we try our best to make people realise that we are really interested…”
The Scientists of Modern Music play the Sounds Loud Festival on Sunday the 11th of April 2010 at Queens Park, Moonee Ponds, VIC.
